Top 10 Austin Restaurants When It MUST Be Gluten-free

Dining out is one of my absolute favorite activities. So when I received my celiac diagnosis, I thought my world was ending. No more pizza, pasta or sandwiches. Good-bye to sushi happy hours and baked goods. “Having a beer” was now a thing of the past.

On one hand, it was a relief to know I wasn’t dying, and that by eliminating gluten from my diet I could relieve all the symptoms that had left my life in a state of disarray. On the other hand, I knew future family gatherings and social outings were going to require a certain degree of diligence and abstinence on my part.

For those of us with celiac disease and severe gluten sensitivity, dining out can cause anxiety. Even though we are fortunate to live in a city where almost every restaurant has gluten-free options, cross-contamination and uninformed restaurant staff present a real risk. I had to find this out the hard way while navigating this disease and learning as I went along. Getting accidentally “glutened” isn’t pretty—the symptoms can range from gastrointestinal to neurological, and it can take anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks to recover.

I’m aiming to open your eyes to a world beyond bunless burgers and skimpy salads. Whether you can’t eat gluten or simply choose not to, here are my top ten tried and true gluten-free eats in Austin.

(Note: It’s always a good idea to disclose upfront that you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, so extra precaution can be taken when preparing your meal.)

1/ Wild Wood Bakehouse

Wild Wood Bakehouse takes the top spot, and deservingly so. This is where I go for what I call “anxiety-free dining.” It is Austin’s only 100% gluten-free kitchen and they maintain a close association with the Celiac Disease Foundation.

What to order: pizza, pasta, anything with bread and paleo cupcakes—all the things traditionally thought to be forbidden. Go nuts.

2/ Casa de Luz

Casa de Luz features communal seating (Credit: Jaclyn Hubersberger)

Casa de Luz is where I go when I want a retreat-like dining experience, with communal seating and a holistic approach to eating. All meals adhere to a macrobiotic diet, based on Taoist principles of the balance of yin and yang, and are 100% organic, vegan and gluten-free. Whether you’re an herbivore or omnivore, if you haven’t experienced Casa de Luz, I recommend you try it.

What to order: the menu items are prepared fresh daily, so there are no decisions to make! Relax and find your Zen while waiting for your meal to be served.

4/ Uchi

Uchi makes sushi an option again (Credit: Uchi Facebook)

In the past I could not confidently eat at a sushi restaurant, but the folks at Uchi quickly put my fears to rest. The waitstaff is well informed when it comes to food allergies and can assist you in modifying items to suit your dietary needs.

What to order: from their everyday menu, the Machi Cure is my favorite: smoked yellowtail, yucca crisp, Marcona almond and Asian pear.

6/ Koriente

Koriente’s knowledgeable staff knows which menu ideas do and do not contain gluten (Credit: Jaclyn Hubersberger)

Most Asian fusion restaurants are off-limits due to their liberal use of soy sauce, but this tiny eatery on East Seventh Street between Red River Street and I-35 has a gluten-free menu and their staff is knowledgeable about what does and does not contain gluten.

9/ Tacodeli

Tacodeli is an Austin staple, and for good reason: their tacos are undeniably some of the best in a city where you can get a taco on nearly every corner. Their corn tortillas are warmed in a separate area to prevent cross-contamination and their menu is almost entirely gluten-free.

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